Lokhandwala Market, where clothing stores, florists and cafes jostle for space, is animated and lively even on regular week days. During Diwali, the never-ending street is enveloped in a golden canopy of tiny lights. People finally stop in their tracks to gaze upwards and click photographs. For an ideal experience of this twinkling tapestry, begin your leisurely stroll at Billionhair Salon and walk towards Yasin’s, as dusk turns to night. 
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WHERE: Lokhandwala Market, Andheri

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Pic/Nimesh Dave

Novelty electronic store’s Deepavali game is always on point. Even though it’s free publicity for the Vile Parle store, the locals look forward to the dressing-up ritual every year. The lights are strung up in rows, making you want to ride the upside-down star-ladden carpet. If you walk a bit further (to where the Parle biscuit factory was) you come to a circle holding a large tree whose branches are laden with Chinese lanterns. Every street and corner of Vile Parle, or Parla as it is called in Marathi, comes alive with stalls selling homemade chaklis and diyas, with children up to no good. It’s one of our favourite spots to soak in the lights every Diwali.
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WHERE: Vile Parle East 

Lighting up memory

Pic/Atul Kamble

The streets of Mahim’s kandil gully are all aglow—one step into the side street and one is overcome by the splendour of the lamps, lanterns, lights, and diyas in all shapes and sizes. In this playground, we wander in a diya-lit dream, thinking of Diwalis long gone, and the ones yet to come. 
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WHERE: Kandil Gully, Mahim

Thane’s thunder

Pic/Anurag Ahire

Ram Maruti Road is a favourite festive hangout, particularly for youngsters, and is often compared to Dadar’s Ranade Road. During Diwali, Thanekars flock to walk under the colourful lights hung from trees. Residents say even the otherwise busy street slows down to pulse and glow. Preparations begin weeks in advance, and the city of lakes offers similar experience at other popular spots such as the promenades around its many waterbodies. Meanwhile, the Ghantali Devi temple, one of the oldest in Thane, goes traditional with clay diyas. So, while the youth marches in its festive finery to Ram Maruti Road, the OG Thanekars gather at Ghantali Devi temple.
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WHERE: Ram Maruti Road, Thane